Flower Power

“Remember the turtle progresses only when he sticks his neck out.”—Anonymousr
Summer vacation! Wonderful. But summers at the beach were only a fond high school memory. For I was eighteen now, and had just finished my first year at college. Home for the summer this year meant getting a job. After answering some want ads in the paper, I finally had gotten an interview with the Auto Club. Alas. My typing skills were apparently abysmal, and I didn’t qualify for an office job with them.
Depressed, I turned my car towards home and thought about what kind of job I might find. The previous year, I had gotten my very first job—as a telephone solicitor. It was horrible. I was dreadful. That was out! After that, I got a job at Zody’s, a now-defunct low-end department store, working the return desk. The line of people returning things they had purchased was always long, and the people were always angry. I wasn’t going to go back there.
Now it looked like office jobs were out, at least until my typing improved. As I thought about what I might be qualified for, suddenly I started thinking about what I might like to do. Until that moment, I hadn’t really thought about liking a job. I rather had the idea that I was doomed to drudgery. But I perked up at the idea I might like something. It suddenly occurred to me that I might like working in at a flower shop. I loved flowers, gardening and hiking. Maybe that would be fun!
At that moment, I saw a sign that read “Whittier Florists.” Without giving myself too much time to think about it, I impulsively turned into the parking lot, got out of my car, and marched into the flower shop. The woman behind the desk asked if she could help me. I told her I was looking for a job. “Are you a designer?” she asked, sizing me up. “Yes!” I blurted out. (Where had that come from? Oh well, I’ve done it now.) She nodded and said, “All right, come back here and design something.” (Gulp!)
She walked me back to the workroom, handed me a vase and a bunch of flowers and went off to the front of the shop. Well, I thought, what’s the worst that could happen? I don’t get the job? I don’t have the job now. The worst that can happen is that I break even and leave here the same as I started. But I will have tried. I quickly looked around at the vases of flowers to see how they were put together and dove in. Who knows? Maybe I’ll just get this job!
I did. The woman came back, looked at the floral arrangement I had made, and said, “Fine. Come back tomorrow to meet the owner. I’ll tell him about you.” I showed up bright and early the next morning, and they put me to work immediately. I worked there every holiday and vacation for the next three years.
Instead of thinking about what you can do, think about what you’d like to do. Then go for it!
Today’s Affirmation: “I can do anything I put my mind to!”